Phonographic record changers



Nov. 7, 1961 .J. ERWOOD 3,007,704

PHONOGRAPHIC RECORD CHANGERS Filed June 4. 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fl G.|

JOSEPH ERWOOD ATT'YS Nov. 7, 1961 J. ERWOOD 3,007,704

PHONOGRAPHIC RECORD CHANGERS Filed June 4, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR:

JOSEPH Egwooo ATT'YS Nov. 7, 1961 3,007,704

J. ERWOOD PHONOGRAPHIC RECORD CHANGERS Filed June 4. 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG? 98 I00 2 89 92 94 97 4 '05 IOI INVENTOR: JOSEPH E RWOQD Nov. 7, 1961 J. ERWOOD 3,007,704

PHONOGRAPHIC RECORD CHANGERS Filed June 4, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR:

I JOSEPH ERb OOD B I I Y x- K, a

ATT' YS Nov. 7, 1961 Filed June 4. 1959 J. ERWOOD PHONOGRAPHIC RECORD CHANGERS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 N 1 J. ERWOOD 3,007,704

PHONOGRAPI'IIC RECORD CHANGERS Filed June 4, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG. l4

ROTATION OF GEAR 50 0 90 100 270 360 VERTICAL MovEMENT OF TONE ARM 46 HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT OF TONE ARM 4s HORIZONTAL MOVEMENTOF LEVER I09 VERTICAL 'MOVEMENT 0F PLUNGER PIVOTAL MOVEMENT 0F PAWL 6| FIG. I5

\IOO 95 D '02 -\IOI L 96 INVENTOR: JOSEPH ERWOOD United States This invention relates to phonographs and, more particularly, to phonographic record changers of the type in which records are played one by one in sequence from a stack of records.

It is a primary object of the present invention to afford a novel record changer of the type wherein records may be played one by one in sequence from a stack of records.

Record changers of the type wherein records are played in sequence from a stack of records have heretofore been known in the art. However, such record changers of that general type as have heretofore been known have had several inherent disadvantages such as, for example, being complicated in construction and operation; embodying a multitude of parts; embodying relatively fragile parts which are readily broken; being large and cumbersome in size; being inefficient and unreliable in operation; or being difficult and expensive to manufacture, or the like. It is an important object of this invention to overcome such disadvantages.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel record changer wherein the parts thereof are relatively simple in construction and may be readily and economically manufactured.

Another object is to provide a novel record changer embodying a minimum of parts.

A further object is to afford a novel record changer wherein the tone arm is frictionally driven in a novel and expeditious manner during a record changing cycle of operation.

Another object is to enable a record changing cycle of operation to be effected in a novel and expeditious manner.

Yet another object of the present invention is to afford a novel record changer of the aforementioned type embodying novel drive mechanism for effecting the swinging of the tone arm and the depositing of a record in playing position during a record change cycle of operation.

An object ancillary to the foregoing is to enable the aforementioned drive mechanism to be controlled and actuated in a novel and expeditious manner.

A further object of the present invention is to afford a novel record changer of the aforementioned type wherein the tone arm thereof may be moved at different rates of speed in a novel and expeditious manner during a recrd changing cycle of operation.

Another object is to afford a novel record changer wherein the parts thereof are constituted and arranged in a novel and expeditious manner.

Yetanother object of the present invention is to afford a novel record changer of the aforementioned type which is practical and efficient in operation and which may be readily and economically produced commercially.

.as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

atent O FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a phonographic record player embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the record player shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 1, but with the turntable removed and with certain parts broken away to show underlying parts;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a portion of the record changer mechanism shown in FIG. 3, but with parts disposed in different position;

FIG. 5 is a top plan View similar to FIG. 4, but with parts disposed in different position;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the gear shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the record changer shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 8-8 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 9-9 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged bottom plan view of a portion of the record changer shown in FIG. 7, with the parts disposed in position they normally occupy when the tone arm is disposed in the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 1, wherein it is just beginning to feed inwardly from the outer edge of a record to be played;

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10, but showing the parts disposed in the position they normally occupy just as the tone arm has run out onto the lead-out grooves on a record being played;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 10, but showing the parts therein disposed in the position they normally occupy just as the tone arm is to be swung by the record changer mechanism from far outermost position inwardly over the next record to be played by the record changer;

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 10, but showing the parts therein disposed in the position they normally occupy as the tone arm is being lowered by the record changer into engagement with the next record to be played;

FIG. 14 is a timing diagram showing the relative times of movements of certain parts of the record changer shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 15 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 1515 in FIG. 10, but disposed in normal position rather than in the upside down position of FIG. 10.

A record changer 1 embodying the principles of the present invention is shown in the drawings to illustrate the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The record changer 1 includes a substantially square base or supporting plate 2 having an upwardly opening, circular-shaped, depression or recess 3 formed centrally therein, FIGS. 1, 3 and 8. A spindle 4, which includes an outer housing or shaft 5 having a radially outwardly projecting flange 6 formed on the lower end thereof, is mounted in upright position at the center of the depression 3, with the flange 6 clamped between two supporting plates 7 and 8, FIG. 8. The plates 7 and 8 are disposed in stacked relation on the upper face of the base 2 on opposite sides of the flange 6, and are secured to the base 2 and to each other by a plurality of screws 9, to thereby firmly hold the shaft 5 in upright position.

The spindle 4 is of the type wherein the shaft 5 is disposed in axial alignment with the opening 10 formed in the base 2, and a plunger 11 is slidably mounted in the lower end portion of the shaft 5 for reciprocation upwardly and downwardly therein. A compression coil spring 12 disposed between the lower end portion of the shaft 5 and an enlarged head 13 on the lower .end of the plunger 11 normally yieldingly retains the plunger 11 in lowermost position.

The upper end portion or head 14 of the shaft 5 of the spindle 4 is offset from the lower end portion 15 thereof to thereby afford an upwardly facing shoulder 16 on which a stack of records, such as the records 17 shown in broken lines in FIGS. 2 and 8, may rest in stored position. A retaining arm 17a, which is rotatably and slidably mounted on a post 17b, may be disposed in position to rest on the records 17, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, to thereby steady the records 17 on the shoulder 16. When it is desired to remove records from the spindle 4, or place other records thereon, the arm 1% may be swung in a clockwise direction from the position shown in FIG. 1 to an outwardly disposed position, not shown.

The spindle 4, above the flange 6, is of such size that it fits in the center hole of records disposed thereon with a relatively snug but freely sliding fit, except that at the lower end portion of the head 14, for a distance above the shoulder 16 approximately twice the thickness of a record to be played, the shaft is reduced in cross section sufliciently that a record resting on the shoulder 16 may be moved to the right, as viewed in FIG. 8, sufficiently to align the center hole in the record with the lower end portion of the shaft 5 and thereby permit the record to drop downwardly along the lower end portion #15.

An elongated slide 19 is slidably mounted in the upper end portion 14 for upward and downward reciprocation relative thereto. The slide 19 has a lower end portion 20 which normally projects downwardly along the reduced portion 18, on the opposite side thereof from the shoulder 16, a distance such that the lower end thereof is disposed slightly more than the thickness of one of the records, but less than the thickness of two of the records, above the shoulder 16, so that all of the records in a stack of records on the shoulder 16, except the lowermost record thereof, is prevented from moving to the right, as viewed in FIG. 8, a sufficient distance to permit the records to be moved into alignment with the lower end portion 15 of the shaft 5.

A lever 21 having a notch 22 therein is pivotally and slidably mounted in the upper end portion of the lower end portion 15 of the shaft 5, and is normally disposed in outwardly projecting relation to the shaft 5 as shown in solid lines in FIG. 8. A pin 23 extends through the shaft 5, within the recess 22, and affords a pivotal mounting for the lever 21. The lever 21 has an upwardly facing shoulder 24 formed on one side of the upper end portion thereof, with a tip 24a projecting above the shoulder 24 on the other side of the upper end portion.

The tip 24a of the lever 21 normally projects outwardly into substantial alignment with the slide 19, and projects upwardly a sufficient distance above the shoulder 16 to prevent the lowermost record 17 from being accidentally dislodged therefrom. When it is desired to drop the lowermost record of the stack of records -17 downwardly from the shoulder 16 onto the lower end portion 15 of the shaft 5, the plunger 11 may be moved upwardly to thereby push upwardly on the bevelled lower end portion 25 of the lever 21 and thereby slide the lever 21 upwardly in the shaft 5 until the pin 23 engages the lower wall of the recess 22. Thereafter, continued upward movement of the plunger 11 is effective to pivot the lever 21 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 8, into the position shown in broken lines in FIG. 8. During this movement of the lever 21, the upper end portion thereof is efiective to slide the lowermost record in the stack of records 17 to the right, as viewed in FIG. 8, and thereby permit the same to drop downwardly along the shaft 5. It will be seen that as the lowermost record 17 is thus slid to the right as viewed in FIG. 8, the slide 20 is effective to hold the other records against such movement, and when the lowermost record is dislodged from the shoulder 16, the shoulder 23 on the lever 21 is in position to support the next record 17 in the stack of records at a sufiicient height above the shoulder 16 that the slide 20 is still effective to prevent sucn'rnovement of this record. As the plunger 11 is again moved downwardly, the lever 21 simultaneously slides downwardly in the shaft 5 and swings in a counterclockwise direction around the pin 23 to thereby lower the remaining records in the stack of records 17 downwardly onto the shoulder 16.

The record player 1 shown in the drawings also includes a turntable 26 rotatably mounted on the spindle 4 for rotation therearound, the turntable 26 having a downwardly projecting peripheral flange 27 which extends downwardly into the recess 3, FIG. 8. The turntable 26 also includes a dovmwardly projecting central hub 28, which has a spur gear 29 formed on the lower end portion thereof for a purpose which will be discussed in greater detail presently, and the hub 28 rests on a suitable bearing 36 mounted on the plate 7 to thereby support the turntable 26 for rotation around the spindle 4.

The turntable 26 may be driven by an electric motor 31 in a suitable manner. As shown, the motor 31 is secured upon the base 2, on the under side thereof, and has a shaft 32 extending upwardly through the base '2 and engaged with the outer peripheral surface of a drive wheel 33 rotatably mounted on the base 2 in position to drivingly engage the downwardly projecting flange 27 on the turntable 26, to thereby be effective when the motor 31 is energized to rotate the turntable 26 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1.

A post or tubular pedestal 34, FIGS. 2 and 8, having a lower end portion 35 projecting downwardly below an outwardly projecting flange 36, is mounted on the base 2 with the lower end portion 35 extending through an Opening 37 in the base 2. A nut 38 is threaded onto the lower end portion 35 to thereby clamp the base 2 between the flange 36 and the nut 38 and support the pedestal 34 in upright position. A sleeve 39 having an enlarged upper end portion 46 and a reduced lower end portion 41 is mounted in the pedestal 34, with the lower end portion 41 extending downwardly therethrongh, and the upper end portion 40 resting on the upper end of the pedestal 34. A lever 42 is secured on the lower end portion of the sleeve 39 by suitable means such as a screw or bolt 43 in closely underlying relation to the lower end portion of the pedestal 34, FIGS. 7 and 8, to thereby prevent the sleeve 39 from being withdrawn from the pedestal 34. A substantially channel-shaped bracket 44 is mounted on the upper end of the sleeve 39, FIG. 8, and is secured thereto by suitable means such as, for example, crimping a portion 45 of the sleeve 39 thereover.

A tone arm 46 having a pick-up head 47 at its front end, is pivotally mounted at its rear end portion on the bracket 44 by a pin 48 projecting through the bracket 44 and the side walls of the tone arm 46.

A plunger 49 having an enlarged head 49a on the upper end thereof extends through and is slidably mounted in the sleeve 39, the head 49a normally resting on the crim-ped portion 45 of the sleeve 39 in spaced relation to a screw 51 adjustably mounted in the tone arm 46. The plunger 49, when in normal, at-rest position, projects downwardly below the sleeve 39 a sufficient distance that, in a record-changing cycle of operation, it may be pushed upwardly a sufficient distance to operatively engage the screw 51 and pivot the front end of the tone arm 46 upwardly around the pin 48 into raised position above any record being played by the record changer.

A substantially flat spur gear 50 having a centrally disposed hub 51 projecting from one side thereof is rotatably mounted on a bearing 52 projecting upwardly from the base 2, FIGS. 2, 7, 8 and 9. The hub 51 projects downwardly through the bearing 52 and the base 2, and a cam 53 is secured to the lower end portion thereof by a screw 54, in downwardly spaced relation to a downwardly projecting boss 55 formed in the lower face of the base 2, FIG. 8. An elongated slide 56, having an elongated slot 57 in one end thereof, is mounted between the cam 53 and the boss 55, with the hub 51 projecting downwardly through the slot 57, whereby the slide 56 is longitudinally movable between the cam 53 and the boss 55, for a purpose which will be discussed in greater detail presently.

The gear 50 has gear teeth 58 formed around the periphery thereof except for a portion of the periphery extending approximately for the distance of three teeth, wherein a recess 59 is formed, the recess having a depth greater than that of the teeth 58, FIGS. 3 and 5. The gear 50 is so positioned on the base 2, when it is mounted in the bearing 52, that the teeth 58 thereof are at all times engaged with the teeth 60 of the spur gear 29 except when the recess 59 is disposed directly adjacent to the gear 29', as shown in FIG. 3.

An elongated pawl 61, FIGS. 3 and 6, is pivotally mounted at one end to the lower face of the gear 50 by a pin 62 and has time teeth 63 formed on the other end portion thereof, the teeth 63 being the same size as the teeth 58. The pin 62 is so positioned relative to the access 59 that the pawl 61 may be rotated therearound between a fully extended positon, such as shown in FIG. 4, wherein the teeth 63 thereon are disposed in the recess 59 and form a continuation of the teeth 58, and a fully retracted position, such as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, wherein the teeth 63 are disposed radially inwardly of the recess 51 A pin 64 is mounted on the gear and projects downwardly therefrom in position to engage the pawl 61 in fully extended position and thereby limit the outward movement thereof. A tension coil spring 65 is connected between the pawl 61 and a pin 66 mounted on the gear 5a in position to yieldingly urge the pawl 61 to pivot around the pin 62 into fully extended position. An elongated trigger 67 is pivotally mounted on the lower face of the gear 5% by a pin 6%, and has a shoulder 69 formed on one end thereof and a downwardly projecting lug 79 formed on the other end thereof. The trigger 67 is so disposed relative to the pawl 61 that it may be disposed in latching position, such as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, wherein the shoulder 6h thereon is effective to engage a lug 61, projecting downwardly from the free end portion of the pawl 61, and hold the pawl 61 in retracted position. A tension coil spring 72 is secured between the lever 67 and a pin 73 on the gear Stl in position to yieldingly urge the lever 71 toward the aforementioned latching position. Rotation of the trigger 67 in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 6, is effective to free the pawl 61 to the urging of the spring 65, and to permit the pawl 61 to be swung thereby into outwardly projecting position as shown in FIG. 4.

A lever 76, FIGS. 3 and 7, is pivotally mounted on the lower face of the base 2 by a pin 7'5, and has a lug 76 projecting upwardly from one end thereof through an opening 77 in the base 2, FIGS. 3 and 10. The lever 74 is normally disposed in the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 10, wherein the lug 76 thereon is disposed adjacent to the lug 70 on the trigger 67. When the gear 50 is disposed in the position shown in FIG. 3, and it is desired to drivingly connect the gear 29 thereto, the lever 74 is rotated around the pin 75 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3. This movement of the lever 74 is effective to engage the lug 76 with the lug 74) and rotate the trigger 67 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3 into position to release the shoulder 69 from holding engagement with the lug 71, and thereby permit the pawl 61 to be moved outwardly by the spring 65 from the position shown in FIG. 6 into engagement with the stop 64, in which position it will be remembered that the teeth 63 form a continuation of the teeth 58, as shown in FIG. 4.

The lever 7 has an adjustable abutment member in the form of a screw or bolt 78 on the opposite end thereof from the lug 76, the bolt 78 projecting horizontally from the lever 74 to afford an abutment member by which the lever 74 may be rotated to thereby initiate a recordchanging cycle of operation at the completion of the playing of a record, as will be discussed in greater detail presently.

An elongated lever 80, having an inner end portion 81 and an outer end portion 82 disposed in parallel planes and connected together by an intermediate portion 83, which extends upwardly and inwardly at an acute angle to the horizontal from the end portion 82 to the end portion 81, is disposed below, in outwardly projection relation to, the turntable 26, FIGS. 3, 8 and 7. The lever St) has an elongated slot 35 extending along the longitudinal center line of the end portion 81, and terminating in spaced relation to the inner and outer ends of the latter. The end portion 81 is disposed beneath the turntable 26, on top of the gear 50, and a pin 84 mounted on and carried by the gear 50* projects upwardly through the opening 84. The intermediate portion 83 of the lever projects downwardly and outwardly from beneath the flange 27 of the turntable 26, and the end portion 82 projects outwardly through an opening 86 in the side wall of the recess 3 into underlying relation to the base plate 2. A spacer sleeve 87 is disposed between the base plate 2 and the outer end portion 82 of the lever 80, and the lever 86 is pivotally mounted thereon by suitable means such as a bolt 88 and a nut 8?, the bolt 8% extending through the plate 2, the sleeve 87 and the outer end portion 82 of the lever 89, FIG. 8.

The free end portion of the outer end portion 82 of the lever 80 has a centrally disposed opening 90' therein, defined at its upper periphery by a border portion 91 extending around a tongue d2 in spaced relation to the latter, Pi -S. 7, 8, l0 and 15. The border portion 91 extends downwardly and outwardly from the main body portion of the outer end portion 32 and terminates at its free end portion in a cross bar 93. The tongue 92. also projects downwardly and outwardly from the outer end portion 82, but to a lesser extent than the border portion 91, and terminates in a free end portion 24 disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the main body portion of the outer end portion 82, FIG. 8. The cross bar 93 of the border portion 91 is attached to the remainder of the outer end portion 82 of the lever an by two parallel side members 95 and 96 attached to opposite end portions of the cross bar 93. The end portion of the cross bar 93 which is attached to the side member 95 is normally disposed below the plunger 4? in the pedestal 3-4, with the plunger 49 resting thereon. The cross bar 3 extends upwardly at an acute angle from the last mentioned end portion for approximately half its distance toward the end portion thereof attached to the side member 96, where it levels out into a substantially straight horizontally extending portion, FIG. 15. Thus, it will be seen that if the lever 89 is pivoted in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 10, from the normal position shown in P16. 10, wherein the plunger 49 rests on the end portion of the cross member 93 attached to the side member 95, to the position shown in FIG. 12, wherein the plunger 49 rests on the end portion of the cross bar 93 attached to the side member 96, the plunger 49 is raised thereby to thereby pivot the front end of the tone arm 46 upwardly around the pin 43. Reverse movement of the lever 89 is effective to again lower the plunger 49 and the front end portion of the tone arm 46.

The lever 42 which, it will be remembered, is attached to the lower end portion of the sleeve 41 extending through the pedestal 34 for the tone arm 46, has two substantially parallel arms 97 and $8 projecting horizontally and generally inwardly from the sleeve 41, FIGS. 7 and 8. The arm 97 is disposed below the arm 98, in spaced relation thereto, and has an arcuate shaped, beveled end portion 99 which is in the form of a segment of a circle. Two plate members 1% and 161 are secured to the lower face of the flange 94 of the tongue 92 by suitable means such as screws 102 and project generally toward the cross bar 93 on the lever 80. The plate members 100 and 101 are relatively flexible and may be made of any suitable material such as, for example, thin sheet steel, and are so disposed that the edge portion 99 of the arm 97 of the lever 42 is disposed in the same horizontal plane as the junction between the two juxtaposed faces of the plates 1% and 101. The periphery of the peripheral edge portion 99 of the arm 97 is on a radius extending outwardly from the longitudinal center line of the sleeve 41, and the peripheral edge 99 is sodisposed relative to the lever 80 that when the lever 80 is disposed in the normal position shown in FIGS. 3, 7 and 10, the peripheral edge portion 99 is spaced from the plate members 1% and 191 in all positions of the tone arm 46 so that the tone mm is free to rotate on the pedestal 34 during the playing of a record on the record player without causing the peripheral edge portion 99 of the lever 42 to engage the plates 1% and 181. During a recordchanging cycle of operation, the plates 1% and 101 are moved into driving engagement with the edge portion 97 of the arm 92, to thereby rotate the tone arm 46 on the pedestal 34, as will be discussed in greater detail presently.

The arm 98 of the lever 42 has a lug 19-3 projecting upwardly therefrom in such position that when the tone arm 4-6 has moved inwardly along a record being played into position wherein the needle is engaged with the run out groove thereon, the lug 163 engages the abutment member 78 on the lever 74 to thereby pivot the lever '74 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 10, from the position shown in FIG. 10 to the position shown in FIG. 11 thereby tripping the trigger 6'7 and releasing the pawl 61, so that the teeth 63 thereon are moved outwardly into the recess 59. Thisis effective to operatively connect the gear 59 to the gear 29 and thereby cause the gear 55: to be rotated in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3.

As may be seen in FIG. 3, when the gear 59 is in normal, at-rest position, the pin J5 is disposed in the inner end portion of the slot 84. During the initial portion of a rotation of the gear 50 from the position shown in FIG. 3, the pin 85- moves further inwardly along the slot 84 of the lever 89, and causes the lever 80 to rotate in a clockwise direction around the bolt 88, as viewed in FIG. 3. It will be remembered that such rotation of the lever 85) is effective through the movement of the cross bar 93 thereon, to raise the plunger 49 and thereby lift the tone arm 46 from the top record on the turntable 26. The inclination of the cross bar 93 is such that during approximately the first thirty degrees of rotation of the gear 50 the tone arm '46 remains in engagement with the record and during the next thirty degrees of rotation of the gear 50 the tone arm is lifted from the record into fully raised position.

As the gear 50 continues to rotate in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3, the movement of the pin 85 along the slot 84 in the lever 86 continues to cause the lever 80 to be rotated in a clockwise direction and, subsequently, cause the lever 80 to return in a counterclockwise direction to its initial position upon the completion of one revolution of the gear 50. The lever 80 and the gear 50 are so disposed relative to each other, FIGS. 3 and 5, that during the initial movement of the lever 80 in a clockwise direction, the pin 85 is moving inwardly along the inner end portion of the slot 84. Toward the end of this inward movement of the lever 80, the slot 84 is disposed substantially in alignment with the movement of the pin 85 and the pin 85 moves outwardly along the slot 84 with relatively little movement of the lever 80 being effected thereby. Thereafter, during the return movement, or counterclockwise movement of the lever 80, the pin 85 is riding in the outer end portion $4, whereby the counterclockwise swinging movement of the lever 80 is at a slower rate than the aforementioned clockwise rotation thereof, and takes place over a greater proportion of the rotation of the gear 50 than does clockwise rotation of the lever 80.

When the tone arm 46 is engaged with the run out gaging position.

grooves on a record, at the completion of the playing of such a record, the arm 97' on the lever 42, which is rotatable with the tone arm 46, is disposed in the position shown in FIG. 11, wherein it projects substantially directly toward the plates 160 and 191 on the tongue 92. The plates 1M and 101 are so disposed on the lever that with the lever 42 disposed in the position shown in FIG. 11, when the lever $50 is swung by the pin in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 3, from the position shown in FIG. 3, the plates 1% and 101 are swung toward the arm 96 of the lever 42 into frictionally clamping engagement with the peripheral edge 99 thereof. Thereafter, the continued clockwise rotation of the lever 80 is effective to swing the peripheral edge portion 99 and, therefore, the arm 97 into the position shown in FIG. 12, wherein the lever arm 98 engages a stop member 104, struck from, and projecting downwardly from the base panel 2. This clockwise swinging movement of the lever 42, as viewed in FEGS, 11 and 12, is effective to swing the tone arm 46 into full outward position as shown in the outwardly disposed broken line position shown in FIG. 1. It will be appreciated that with my construction, even when the swinging movement of the tone arm 46 and, therefore, the arm 97 of the lever 42 is thus positively stopped by the engagement of the lever 42 with the stop 1%, the lever 80 is free to continue to rotate in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3, because the plates and 101 may slide along the peripheral edge 99 of the lever 97.

During return movement of the lever 80, in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3, the cross bar 93 thereon is moved from the position shown in FIG. 11 to the position shown in FIG. 12, so that the tone arm 46 is again lowered from fully raised position to record en- During this same return movement of the lever 80, the plates 100 and 101 are frictionally engaged with the peripheral edge portion 99 of the arm 97 and are effective to thereby rotate the lever 42 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 12 from the position shown in FIG. 12 to a position such as that shown in FIG. 13, wherein the tone arm 46 is disposed over the leading edge of the next record to be played. During this outward and inward swinging movement of the tone arm 46, and while the tone arm 46 was disposed outwardly of the peripheral edge portion of the records to be played, the record changing mechanism of my novel record changer has been actuated, and a stop mechanism for stopping the inward swinging movement of the tone arm 46, in position to engage the outer peripheral edge portion of the next record to be played has also been actuated, as will be discussed in greater detail presently.

The record changing mechanism of my novel record changer includes the aforementioned spindle 4, together with its lever 21 and the plunger 11. It also includes the cam 53 which, it will be remembered, is attached to the lower end portion of the hub 51 on the gear 50 and, therefore, is rotatable with the gear 50. A cammember 105 is attached to and projects downwardly from the lower face of the cam 53, FIGS. 7 and 8, and a lever 106 is pivotally mounted in a post 107 by a pin 108, the post 107 being attached to and projecting downwardly from the lower face of the base plate 2 in position to support the lever 106 with one end portion disposed in abutting relation to the lower end of the plunger 11, and with the other end portion normally disposed in engagement with the lower face of the cam 53, FIGS. 2 and 7. The cam member 105 is so disposed on the cam 53 that during rotation of the cam 53 with the gear 50, the cam memher 105 engages the lever 106 and causes it to rotate first in a clockwise direction and then in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2, to thereby cause the plunger 11 to be reciprocated upwardly and then downwardly and cause the lowermost record of the stack of records 17 on the shoulder 16 of the spindle 4 to be dropped downwardly onto the turntable 26.

The stop mechanism for properly positioning the tone arm 46 to engage the outer edge of a record to be played includes a lever 109 pivotally mounted at one end by a pin or screw 110 to the lower face of the base plate 2, FIG. 7. The lever 109 has an elongated slot 111 formed in the other end portion thereof, and a pin 112 on one end portion of a slide 113 projects upwardly through the slot 111 for a purpose which will be discussed in greater detail presently.

The lever 109 is normally disposed in the position shown in FIG. 10, wherein it is disposed out of the path of travel of the lug 163 on the arm 98. However, the lever 109 has a series of shoulders 114, 115 and 116 formed in the edge portion 117 thereof which face generally toward the lever 42, FIG. 10. These shoulders or stops 114-116 are so positioned on the lever 109 that when the lever 109 is disposed in position wherein the lug 103 on the lever 98:, engages any one of the stops 115-116 during the aforementioned inward swinging movement of the tone arm 46, the tone arm 46 is stopped in such position that, when it is subsequently lowered into record engaging position, it will engage the outer edge of the record to be played. Thus, for example, the stops 114-116 may be disposed on the arm 1119 in position to stop the tone arm 46 in proper position to engage the outer edge portion of 12 inch, inch and 7 inch records, respectively. Control of the positioning of the lever 109 for the various type records may be efiected by adjustment of the position of the slide 113, to thereby adjust the position at which the pin 112 thereon engages the inner end portion of the slot 111, as will he discussed in greater detail presently.

The slide 56, which it will be remembered is disposed between the cam 53 and the base plate 2, is pivotally connected to the lever 199 by a pin 113, for controlling the inward and outward swinging movements of the lever 169. A downwardly projecting lug 119 on the inner end portion of the slide 56 is normally engaged with the outer peripheral edge of the cam 53, as shown in FIG. 10. The cam 53 is of such configuration, and is so positioned on the hub 51 of the gear 51 that when the cam 53 is disposed in normal, at rest, position as shown in FIG. 10, it is effective to hold the lever 1119 in fully retracted position so that the tone arm 46 is free to swing inwardly and outwardly without the lug 193 on the lever 42 engaging any of the stops 114-116. During the initial rotation of the gear 50, in a record-changing cycle of operation, the lug 119 on the slide 56 rides along a portion 120 of the cam 53 which is substantially the arc of a circle around the longitudinal center line of the hub 51 of the gear 50. After the tone arm has been swung into fully outwardly disposed position, during a record-changing cycle of operation, the lug 119 rides off from the surface 120 onto a surface 121a on the cam 53. This latter surface 121a slopes inwardly toward the hub 51, so that the slide 56 is permitted thereby to move outwardly under the urging of a spring 122 connected to the lever 109, to thereby move the lever 109 into position wherein the pin 112 on the slide 113 engages the inner end of the recess 111 to thereby stop the lever 1119 in its proper position. Thereafter, continued rotation of the cam 53 moves the edge portion 12 1b thereof into alignment with the lug 119 on the slide 56. The portion 121b of the peripheral edge of the cam 53 is disposed inwardly a sufiicient distance that, when it is disposed adjacent to the lug 119, it is spaced therefrom, as shown in FIG. 13 so that the extreme outward movement of the lever 169 is controlled by the slide 113, alone.

The extent of this outward movement of the lever 109 is controlled by the slide 113. Thus, it will be seen that when the slide 56 is disposed in its outermost position as shown in FIG. 13, the pin 112 on the slide 113 is engaged with the extreme end portion of the slot 111 to thereby limit the movement of the lever 109. Positioning of the slide 113may be controlled by a manually operable member 123 which is mounted on the lower end 119 portion of a shaft 124 which extends through the base plate 2. A knob 125 is mounted on the upper end portion of the shaft 124 and may be manually rotated by the operator to thereby correspondingly rotate the member 123.

The member 123 has a plurality of notches 126, 12 7 and 128 therein, and the slide 113 has a roller 129 disposed thereon in position to engage selected ones of the notches 126-128. A tension coil spring 136 is connected to the slide 113 and the base plate 2 in position to yieldingly hold the roller 129 in engagement with the periphery of the member 123. The notches 126-128 are of various depths so that by selectively engaging the roller 129 in the notches 126-128, the position of the slide 113 may be varied longitudinally. Thus, it will be seen the position at which the pin 112 will engage the end of the slot 111 in the lever 1&9 may be manually varied by rotating the knob 125. Thus, the stop position of the lever 1199 may be correspondingly varied to dispose the proper one of the shoulders 114-116 in position to engage the lug 1113 on the lever 42. during inward swinging move ment of the tone arm 46, and thereby stop the tone arm 46 in proper position to be lowered into engagement with the particular size record being played.

it will be appreciated that although I have shown only three notches 126-1215 on the member 123, and three shoulders 114-116 on the lever 169, this is merely by way of illustration and not by way of limitation and a lesser or greater number of stop shoulders and stop positions may be afforded without departing from the purview of my invention.

it will be remembered that when the tone arm 4-6 moves onto the run out grooves of the record being played, the lever 74 actuates the trigger 67 to thereby release the pawl 61 and permit the teeth 63 thereof to move into the recess 59 to thereby engage the gear 511 with the gear 29 for rotation thereby. The rotation of the gear 56 by the gear 29 in a record-changing cycle of operation, is in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 3. The pawl 61 carries a downwardly projecting lug 1'31, FIGS. 6 and 9, which is disposed in position to engage an upwardly projecting lug 132 mounted on the base plate 2 and secured thereto by suitable means such as by a screw 133. As may be seen in FIG. 3, the lug 132 is disposed in such position that the lug 131 engages the same after the gear 511 has completed approximately three-fourths of a complete revolution. After the pawl 61 has moved past the lug 132, it is again disposed in retracted position as shown in FiG. 5. Hence, when the gear 50 again moves into its initial position, wherein the recess 59 is disposed adjacent to the end directly opposite the gear 29, rotation of the gear 50 is stopped until the trigger 67 is again tripped.

An abutment member 134 is mounted on and carried by the lower face of the gear 51). The member 134 has an outwardly facing notch 135 therein, and is so disposed on the gear 51) that when the gear 56 is disposed in normal, at-rest, position, a roller 136 on a pawl 137 is disposed in the notch 135. The pawl 137 is pivotally mounted on the upper face of the base plate 2 by suitable means such as a screw or pin 138, and a tension coil spring 139 is connected at one end to the pawl 137 and at its other end to a pin 140 on the base plate 2 in position to yieldingly urge the roller 136 inwardly under the gear 56. During rotation of the gear 50, as it nears its normal, at-rest, position, the abutment member 134 engages the roller 136 and pivots the pawl 137 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 3, against the urging of the spring 139. As the gear 50 continues to move, the roller 136 rides along the abutment member 134 until it snaps into the recess 135 just as the gear 51} moves into its normal, at-rest, position. Hence, it will be seen that the roller 136 acts as a brake to stop rotation of the gear 50, and also acts as a centering device to insure that, at the end of a cycle of operation, the gear 50 is disposed in position wherein the recess 59 is disposed adjacent to and directly facing the gear 29, as shown in FIG. 3.

A switch 140 is mounted on the lower face of the base plate 2, and may be connected by suitable conductors, not shown, to a suitable source of electric power, not shown. The switch 146 may also be connected to the motor 131 by suitable conductors, not shown, to thereby control operation of the motor. Actuation of the switch 14% may be effected by a knob 141 mounted on the upper face of the base plate 2, FIGS. 1 and 2. The knob 141 is attached to the upper end portion of a shaft 142 which extends downwardly through the base plate 2 and has one end of a lever 143 connected to the lower end portion thereof for rotation therewith. Another lever 144 has one and connected to the other end portion of the lever il -s3 by a pin 145, and has 2. lug 146 operatively engaged with the switch 140 whereby upon rotation of the knob 141 between on and off positions, the switch 140 is opened or closed by the movement of the levers 143 and 144.

The lever 1.44- may be moved beyond the on position shown in solid lines in FIG. 7 by rotation of the knob 141, to a manual reject position shown in broken lines in FIG. 7, wherein the lug 14d engages the lever 74 and is effective to rotate the latter in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 7, to thereby trip the trigger 67 and initiate a record-changing cycle of operation. A tension coil spring 14% having one end connected to the lever 144 and the other end connected to a pin 149 on the base plate 2, urges the lever 144 toward otf position, so that when the knob 141 is released after a manual reject movement thereof, the spring 148 is effective to return the lever 144 from the reject position shown in broken lines in FIG. 7 to the on position shown in solid lines. The spring 148 is not sufliciently strong to move the lever 144 from on position to off position against the force of the switch 14d. A guide 15% is disposed in overlying relation to the lever 14 iand is secured to the lower face of the base plate 2 by suitable means such as, for example, a pin or rivet 151, the lever 144 being disposed between the plate 15s and the base plate 2 with a relatively snug but freely slidable fit.

From the foregoing it will be seen that when a record playing cycle of operation is initiated by my novel record changer, the tone arm 46 is disposed in position to engage the outer peripheral edge portion of the record to be played, such as, for example, the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 1. During the playing of the record, the tone arm 46 moves inwardly along the record grooves toward an inner position shown in open lines in FIG. 1, and at the completion of the playing of the record, the tone arm 46 moves onto the run out grooves of the record. When this occurs, the lug 1% on the lever 42 engages the abutment member '78 on the lever 74 to thereby pivot the latter and trip the trigger 67. Tripping of the trigger 67 releases the pawl 61 for rotation in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 6, to thereby engage the teeth 63 thereon with the teeth 60 on the gear 29. The engagement of the teeth 63 with the teeth 60 operatively connects the gear 50 to the gear 29 for rotation thereby, and initiates a record changing cycle of operation.

During a record changing cycle of operation, the tone arm 46 is raised and swung outwardly to fully retracted position, and the next record to be played is dropped onto the turntable 26, relatively quickly. Thereafter, the tone arm is swung inwardly and downwardly at a slower rate of speed so that it is placed gently on the record to be played. Also, the outward swinging movement of the stop lever 1&9 is relatively slow so that its engagement with the pin 112 on the slide 113 is also relatively gentle.

With this construction and arrangement of parts, the parts of my novel record changer are relatively noiseless in operation, and are subjected to very little shock.

In FIG. 14, the relative movements of some of the parts of my novel record changer are diagrammatically charted in terms of the amount of rotation of the gear 5% during a record-changing cycle of operation for a 12 inch record. it will be seen that, as shown in FIG. 14, afiter approximately thirty degrees of rotation of the gear 58 in a record-changing cycle of operation, the lever St) has been moved thereby into position wherein it is eficctive to begin to raise the plunger 49 and thereby raise the tone arm 4d from engagement with the record. The raising of the tone arm occurs during approximately the next thirty degrees of rotation of the gear 5%. Thereafter, during approximately the next fifty degrees of rotation of the gear 50, the tone arm 45 is swung outwardly to fully retracted position such as the outer position shown in broken lines in FIG; 1, so that at the completion of approximately one hundred ten degrees of rotation of the gear 56 the tone arm 46 is disposed in fully retracted position. During approximately the next seventy degrees of rotation, the stop lever 16? is moved inwardly into stop position, and during the last twenty degrees of this rotation of the gear 50, the tone arm 46 begins to swing horizontally inwardly toward record engaging position. This inward swinging movement continues for approximateiy seventy degrees of rotation or, in other words, until the gear 50 has completed approximately two hundred thirty degrees of rotation.

As shown in FIG. 14, while the tone arm 46 was disposed in fully retracted position, and during the time that the gear 56 was rotating between its one hundred twenty degree point and its one hundred sixty degree point, the cam member 165 raised the plunger 11 to thereby drop the next record downwardly onto the turntable 26, the plunger 11 riding downwardly off the cam during approximately the next forty degrees of rotation of the latter.

Also, as shown in FIG. 14, after the gear 50 has rotated through approximately two hundred seventy degrees of its rotation, the plunger 49 again starts moving downwardly to thereby lower the tone arm 46, and this movement continues during approximately sixty degrees of rotation of the gear 5t At the completion of this downward movement of the tone arm 46, the lug 119 on the slide 56 again is operatively engaged by the cam 51 to thereby quickly move the slide 56 and the lever 109 out of stop position, such as that shown in FIG. 13, to normal, atrest, position such as that shown in FIG. 10.

From the ofregoing, it will be seen that I have afforded a novel record changer which is relatively simple in construction and operation.

Also, it will be seen that I have afforded a record changer which is relatively quiet in operation.

In addition, it will be seen that I have afforded a novel record changer wherein most of the parts thereof may be readily manufactured in the form of stampings.

Also, it will be seen that I have afforded a novel record changer wherein parts thereof which are under strain in a record changing cycle of operation, and the like, may be relatively rugged in construction.

Also, it will be seen that I have afforded a novel record changer which is practical and eflicient in operation and mty be readily and economically produced commercial- Thus, while I have illustrated and described the pre ferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modification, and I therefore do not Wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Phonogr-aphic apparatus comprising a record turntable, drive means for rotating said turntable, a tone arm movable with respect to said turntable, actuating means connected to said tone arm, means for supporting a record in stored position above said turntable and actuatable to deposit said record on said turntable, a gear carried by and rotatable with said turntable, another gear normally disengaged from said first mentioned gear, means for engaging said other gear with said first mentioned gear for rotation thereby, an elongated lever pivotally mounted on a fixed pivot for horizontal swinging movement therearound, said lever having other actuating means carried by one end thereof, and having another end pivotally connected to said other gear and being oscillatable thereby through a path of movement effective to operatively engage said other means with said first mentioned actuating means to thereby raise and horizontally swing said tone arm into retracted position and then to lower and horizontally swing said tone arm into record-engaging position during a single revolution of said other gear, and means, including a cam connected to said other gear and rotatable therewith, for actuating said supporting means to deposit said record on said turntable and stopping said tone arm in said recordengaging position during said revolution of said other gear.

2. Phonographie apparatus comprising a record turntable, drive means for rotating said turntable, a tone arm movable with respect to said turntable, actuating means connected .to said tone arm, means for supporting a record in stored position above said turntable and actuable to deposit said record on said turntable, a gear carried by and rotatable with said turntable, another gear normally disengaged from said first mentioned gear for rotation thereby, an elongated lever fixedly mounted against longitudinal movement, said lever having other actuating means carried by one end thereof, and having another end pivotally connected to said other gear and oscillatable through a path of movement thereby effective to operatively engage said other actuating means with said first mentioned actuating means to thereby raise and horizontally swing said tone arm into retracted position and then lower and horizontally swing said tone arm into record-engaging position during a single revolution of said other gear, and means, including a cam conneeted to said other gear and rotatable therewith, for actuating said supporting means to deposit said record on said turntable and stopping said tone arm in said record-engaging position during said revolution of said other gear, said means actuatable by said cam also including two levers, and a slide, one of said levers engaging said supporting means and said cam and being operable by said earn during said rotation thereof to so actuate said supporting means, the other of said levers being oscillatable into and out of position to stop said tone arm in said record-engaging position, and said slide being connected to said other lever and actuatable by said cam to move said other lever.

3. Phonographic apparatus comprising a record turntable, drive means for rotating said turntable, a tone arm movable with respect to said turntable, actuating means connected to said tone arm, means for supporting a record in stored position above said turntable and actuatable to deposit said record on said turntable, another gear normally disengaged from said first mentioned gear, means for engaging said other gear with said first mentioned gear for rotation thereby, a fixed pivot member, an elongated lever pivotally mounted on said pivot member for horizontal rotation thereon and held thereby against longitudinal movement, said lever having other actuating means carried by one end thereof, and having another end pivotally connected to said other gear and being oscillatable through a path of travel directive to operatively engage said other actuating means with said first mentioned actuating means to thereby raise and horizontally swing said tone arm outwardly relative to said turntable into retracted position and then to lower and horizontally swing said tone arm inwardly relative to said turntable into record-engaging position during a single revolution of said other gear, said lever being operable to move said tone arm outwardly relative to said turntable at a faster rate 14 than said inward movement thereof, and means actuated by said other gear during said single rotation thereof for actuating said supporting means to deposit said record on said turntable and stopping said tone arm in record-engaging position during said revolution of said other gear.

4. Phonographic apparatus comprising a record turntable, drive means for rotating said turntable, a tone arm movable with respect to said turntable, means for supporting a record in stored position above said turntable and actuatable to deposit said record on said turntable, a gear carried by and rotatable with said turntable, another gear normally disengaged from said first mentioned gear, means for engaging said other gear with said first mentioned gear for rotation thereby, means, including a lever directly connected to said other gear by a pin and slot connection and oscillatable thereby, for moving said tone arm outwardly relative to said turntable into retracted position and then inwardly relative to said turntable into recordengaging position during a single revolution of said other gear, said last mentioned means including a lever arm movable with said tone arm, two plates mounted on and carried by said lever in position to frietionally clamp said lever arm therebetween during said oscillation of said lever and thereby swing said lever arm and tone arm therewith, and a plunger movable with said tone arm and disposed in position to be engaged by said lever for raising the said tone arm during oscillation of said lever by said gear and means connected to and operable by said other gear during rotation thereof for actuating said supporting means to deposit said record on said turntable and stopping said tone arm in said record-engaging position during said revolution of said other gear.

5. Phonographic apparatus comprising a record turntable, drive means for rotating said turntable, a tone arm movable with respect to said turntable, means for suppor ing a record in stored position above said turntable and actuatable to deposit said record on said turntable, a gear carried by and rotatable with said turntable, another gear normally disengaged from said first mentioned gear, means for engaging said other gear with said first mentioned gear for rotation thereby, means for moving said tone arm outwardly relative to said turntable into record-engaging position during a single revolution of said other gear, said last mentioned means including an elongated lever pivotally mounted below said turntable, said lever being fixed against longitudinal movement and having an elongated slot longitudinally disposed in one end portion thereof, a pin on said other gear and rotatable therewith, said pin being normally disposed in the inner end portion of said slot and being operable, durin said single revolution of said gear, to pivot said lever in one direction and then pivot said lever in the other direction at a lesser rate of speed, means movable vertically with said tone arm, means connected to said tone arm and rotatable therewith, means on the other end portion of said lever and engageable with said vertically movable means during said pivoting of said lever for raising and lowering said tone arm, and means on said other end portion of said lever and frietionally engageable with said means rotatable with the tone arm for rotating said tone arm outwardly away from said turntable and inwardly toward said turntable during said pivoting of said lever, and means connected to said other gear and operable thereby to actuate said second mentioned means and thereby deposit a record from stored position onto said turntable during said swinging movement of said tone arm.

6. Phonographic apparatus comprising a record turntable, drive means for rotating said turntable, a tone arm movable with respect to said turntable, means for supporting a record in stored position above said turntable and actuatable to deposit said record on said turntable, a gear carried by and rotatable with said turntable, another gear normally disengaged from said first mentioned gear, means for engaging said other gear with said first mentioned gear for rotation thereby, means, including a lever 15 directly connected by a pin to said other gearand oscillatable thereby, for moving said tone arm to retracted position and then into record-engaging position during a single revolution of said other gear, a cam connected to said other gear and rotatable therewith, a lever engaged with said supporting means and said cam, said lever being operable by said earn during a revolution of the latter to .there by actuate said supporting means and deposit said record on said turntable, another lever pivotally mounted beneath said turntable for rotation between a normal position and an actuated position wherein said lever is effective to stop said tone arm in position to engage the outer peripheral edge of said record, spring means connected to said other lever and urging the latter toward said actuated position,

and means for controlling movement of said other lever 15 2,803,465

between said normaland actuataed positions, said last mentioned means including a longitudinally slidable elongated slide having one end pivotally connected to said other lever, and a lug on the other end portion of said slide engageable with the peripheral edge of said cam for controlling the longitudinal sliding movement of said slide.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,640,705 Mortimer June 2, 1953 2,698,182 Mullaney et al Dec. 28, 1954 2,718,401 Carlson Sept. 20, 1955 2,786,685 Schweitzer Mar. 26, 1957 Dobrogowski et al Aug. 20, 1957 

